Door-latching device.



C. DZIEGIELEWSKI. DOOR LATCHING DEVICE.- APPLlcAnoN man JULY 31,1915.

` Patented July 18, 1916.

No-z una? wr anion.

CLEMENS DZIEGIELEWSKI, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

. DOOR-LATCHING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented amy is, taie.

Application filed July 31, 1915. Serial No. 42,900.

This invention relates to a latch for doors,

preferably those of automobiles, and among its important features are the follo\v1ng:'- cam means operated by a push button, whereby the latch may be removed from engagement with the striker plate; a palr of vlatch plates and resilient means for normally causing them to approach the striker plate from opposite directions, together with a cam or wedge whereby they may be spaced apart to release the striker plate; rollers mounted on the latch plate, said rollers receivi-ng the wedge between them; a push button mounted near the upper edge of the door, and shaft operated cam means connected thereto for withdrawing the latch plate from the striker plate.

The invention also consists in the details of construction shown, described'and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is anin'side perspective view of a door of an automobile and enough of the adjacentframe to Y indicate the application of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a part elevation, part section taken from` the outside of the door, the latter being indicated in dashed lines. `Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a section on the line. 4-4 ofl Fig. 2, the striker plate also shbwn. Fig. 5 is a section on the broken line 5-5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a detail showing a slight modification.

Similar' reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views. Attached by screws 1 or otherwise to the edge face 2, that surrounds the usual` door opening, is a striker plate 3 having a flange 4 that may be arranged substantially in the plane of the inner surface of the body, whereby the movement of the door 5 inwardly is limited. A T- or arrow-head shaped striker comprising a neck yor web 6,

that terminates in the vertically extending flanges 8 having the wedged outer surface `9, lies between the flange 4 and the rest of theplate.

A portion of the door may be cut away in the manner indicated at 10 in Fig. 3, and receives a base plate 12 having a flange 13 striker Ain the edge plane of the door, the plate, in-

cluding the flange, being slotted as shown at 14 in Figs. 1 and 5 to admit the striker,

and being .secured in position by the screws 15. Projecting from the plate is a pivot 16 about which swing the opposed latch bars 18 and 19, that are normally held in engagement with each other by' the spring 20; this spring may either be wrapped around the pivot 16 (Figs. 2 and 5) or about a pin 21 (Fig. (i) which projects fr'omthe base plate at a point between the pivot and the slot 14. The latter arrangement, for a given size of spring, obviously affords a greater eective latching tendency. 1n order that the latch bars may be automatically spread apart as the door swings into engagement withthe late, they are beveled as indicated at 22 Fig. 4); and, for the purpose of insuring a proper contact With the striker plate throughout the opening movement, the beveled faces may also be made to ,converge longitudinally (Fig. 2).

Each of the latch bars is provided with a lug 23slotted at 24 and cut away to receive a roller 25 supported on a pin 26, said rollers being located in vertical alinement with each other. A plate30, of any vpreferred shape, comprising the upper and lower perforated sides. 31 and 32, is rivetedor other- 33 with which the wedge 34 is rigid, said' wedge being normally held (by the action of the spring 20) in a pocket 35 formed by cutting away portions of the latch bars (Fig. 3), from which it will be'seen that the wedge is thrust lbetween the` rollers 25 when the shaft is turnedv inthe proper direction. The latch plates are thus caused to swing out of alinement with the flanges on the striker and release the door, this motion being allowed by the slots 24 in the lugs 23. At its upper end the shaft 33 is provided with a crank or arm 36 preferably notched at 38 to. receive the in 39, whereby it is connected to the divi ed end of a push button 40. The latter projects from the inner face of the door, and is guided by any suitable guide member 42.i

1t is clear ,that the details of the device may be modified to a considerable degree without dejlarting from the spirit ofthe invention; for example, the relative location of the striker plate and the latch elements may be reversed. l do not, therefore, wish to be limited other than as indicated by the subjoined claims.

l claim: L l l. In combination, two members, one a door frame and the other a door arranged to swing in respect thereto, mechanism for" supported by one of the members, said latching the door comprising astriker plate supported by one of the members, said striker plate including a lshaped striker having a web extending transversely of the member by which it is carried and having flanges extending from the web in opposite directions in the plane of the last mentioned member, means for supporting said striker plate on the edge of themeinber by which it is carried and wholly between the inner and outer faces thereof, said striker plate including a base flange through which the supporting means passes, said flange lying in a plane at substantially right angles to the plane of the member by which the striker44 vplate is carried, a pair of pivotally supported opposed latch bars carried by the other member, resilient means tend-ing to force the latch bars together, said latch bars being in alinement with the striker, whereby they are ,forced apart as the door `approaches a closed position and are thereafter snapped together beyond the flanges, a rotatable shaft arrangedtransversely of the latch bars, and a wedge carried by said shaft, said wedge being positioned to enter between the latch bars and force them out of alinement with the striker when the yshaft is rotated. y

2. ln combination, two members, one a door frame and the other a door arranged to swing in respect thereto, mechanism for latching the door comprising a striker supported by one of the members, said striker including a web extending transversely of the member by which it is carried and oppositely extending flanges arranged in the plane lof the last mentioned member, saidv web and flanges together being substantially arrow-head shape in cross-section, means for supporting said striker plate on the edge of the member by which it is carried and wholly between the inner and outer faces thereof, said strikerl plate including a base flange through which the supporting means passes, said flange lying in a plane at substantially right angles to the plane ofthe member by which the striker plate is carried, a pair of pivotally supported opposed latch bars carried by the other member, resilient means tending to force the latch bars together, said latch bars being in alinement with the striker, whereby they are forced apart as the door approaches a closed position and are thereafter snapped together be yond the flanges, a rotatable shaft arranged transversely of the latch bars, and a wedge mei ,ere

carried by said shaft, said wedge being positioned to enter between the latch bars and force them out of alinement with the striker when the shaft is rotated.

3. In' combination, two members, one a door frame and the other a door arranged to swing in respect thereto, mechanism for latching the door comprising a striker plate striker plate including a nl`shaped striker, means for supporting said striker plate on the edge of the member by which it is carried and wholly between the inner and outer faces' thereof, said striker plate including a base flange through which the supporting means passes, said flange lying in a plane at substantially right angles to the plane of the'member by which the striker plate is carried, a pair of pivotally supported opposed latch bars carried by the other member, resilient means tending to force the latch bars together, said latch bars having beveled surfaces flaring transversely of the plane of the member by which they -are carried in alinement with the striker whereby they are forced apart' as the door approaches a closed position, the resilient means serving to thereafter force them toward each otherfbeyond the flanges, a rotatable shaft arranged transversely of the latch bars, and a wedge carried by said shaft, said wedge be- 'ing positioned to enter between the latch bars and force them out of alinement with the striker when the shaft is rotated.

4. ln combination two members, one a door frame and the other a door arranged to swing in respect thereto, mechanism for latching the door comprising a striker plate supported by one of the members, said striker including a web and a flange projecting therefrom, the flange having a surface inclined transversely in respect to the plane of the door opening, means for supporting said striker plate ony the edge of the v member by which it is carried and wholly between the inner and outer faces thereof, said striker plate including a base flange through which the supporting means passes, said flange lying in a plane at substantially right angles to the plane of the member by which the striker plate is carried, a latch bar pivotally supported on the other member, a spring for normally holding the latch bar .in alinement with the inclined surface on the striker, a rotatable shaft arranged transversely of the latchbar, a wedge rigid transversely in respect to the plane of the door opening,'there being a depression in the striker beyond the inclined surface, means for supporting said striker pl'ate on the edge of the member by which it is carried and wholly between the innerand louter faces thereof, said striker 'plate including a base flange through which the supporting meansI passes, said flange lying in a plane at substantially'right angles to the plane of the member by which the striker plate is carried, a latch bar pivotally supported on the door, a spring for normally holding the latch bar in alinement with the inclined surface on the striker, a rotatable shaft arranged transversely of the latch bar, a wedge rigid therewith, whereby, when the shaft is rotated, the latch bar is removed from alinement with the striker, and means for imparting angular movement to the shaft.

6. In combination, a frame having an opening, a door movable in respect thereto, a striker supported onthe frame, said striker including a. surface inclined transversely in respect to the door opening, there being a depression in the striker beyond the inclined surface, a latch bar pivotally supported on the door, a spring for normally holding the latch bar in alinement with the inclined surface on the striker, a rotatable shaft arranged transversely of the latch bar, a wedge rigid therewith, whereby, when the shaft is rotated, the latch bar is removed from alinement with the striker, a push button projecting from the door, means connecting the push button and shaft for imparting angular movement to the latter.

7. In combination, two members, one a door frame having an opening and the other a door movable in respect thereto, mecha-V nism for latching the door comprising a v striker plate supported by one of the members, said striker plate including a T-shaped striker, a. pair of pivotally supported opposed latch bars carried by the other member, resilient means tending to force the latch bars together, said latch bars being in alinement with the striker, wherebythey are forced apart as the door approaches a closed position and are thereafter' snapped together beyond the flanges, a rotatable shaftarranged transversely of the latch bars, a wedge carried by said sha-ft, said wedge being positioned to enter betweenv the latch bars and force them out of alinement with the striker when the shaft is rotated, a crank rigid with the'shaft, and a push button connected to the crank and projecting from the door whereby angular movement may be imparted to the shaft.

8. In combination, two members, one a door frame and the other a door arranged to swing in respect thereto, mechanism for latching the door comprising a striker plate supported by one of the members, said striker including a web and a flange projecting therefrom, the flange having a surfaceinclined transversely in respect to the plane of the door opening, means for supporting said striker plate on the edge of the member by which it is'carried and wholly between the inner and l outer faces thereof, said striker plate including a base flange through which the supporting means passes, said flange lying in a plane at substantially right angles to the plane of the member by which the striker plate is carried, a latch bar p ivotally supported on the other member, a spring for normally holding the latch bar in alinement with the inclined surface on'the striker, a rotatable shaft larranged transversely of the latch bar, and means whereby, when the shaft is rotated, the latch bar is removed from alinement with the striker.

In testimony whereof Ik sign this specification.

CLEMENS DZIEGIELEWSKI. 

